Chapter 75

Senju Compound, Konohagakure

A few kids were watching a fight in the yard. Shikamaru and Choji were cheering from the side, while Tenten observed the one-sided fight happening in the yard. Five clones of Naruto were punching and kicking Ino, who was trying her best to defend herself from the incoming assault. All this originally started because Ino began boasting about having learned the basic technique, unaware that Naruto and the rest had been practicing for quite some time. In the end, Ino challenged Naruto to a spar, which she was regretting now.

"Enough, enough, I give up!" Ino started screaming with tears in her eyes, unable to bear the pain anymore. The spar quickly paused, and Shikamaru and Choji panicked because if Ino went back and complained, they would get one hell of a beating. So, they rushed in to console the now-crying Ino. Shikamaru and the rest were almost five years old now, and Tenten would start academy life soon, as she was only a few months away from reaching six years of age.

After Tenten forced Naruto to apologize to Ino, Ino calmed down, and both Shikamaru and Choji had to bribe her so as not to tell their mothers about the incident. The kids settled down, and Tenten's mother brought some snacks and refreshments for them.

"Naruto, how are you so strong? And how are you able to use the clone technique so easily? I only started learning it last month, and I wanted to surprise you guys." Ino felt wronged because she originally wanted to show off, but her dreams were shattered after her spar with Naruto.

"Of course, I am strong! I practice every day. Not just me; everyone here can use the clone technique, substitution, and transformationtechnique. Shikamaru here even knows how to use Kage Bunshin but refuses to teach me," Naruto explained without holding anything back because he had lacked friends during early life. So, he readily accepted Ino when she joined their little group.

"What! All of you know how to perform the three basic techniques." Ino opened her eyes wide in shock because, although she knew about Shikamaru and Choji, she was not aware of Tenten and Naruto's prowess. Even for children within the clan, they only start teaching the kids seriously before they start school. But here was Naruto, who said that all four were proficient with the basic techniques.

"Well, Tenten would punch me even if I missed a single day of training. Kazuki Niisan has left instructions for our training routines, and he has promised to teach me a supercool jutsu when he returns from the war," Naruto shared with enthusiasm evident in his eyes.

"Kazuki is your mentor? From what Shikamaru told me, I thought only he and Choji were being taught; isn't he only a few years older than us? By the way, how come he was allowed to participate in the war?" Ino, although she had heard of Kazuki, was not aware of many details. Ino only knew that Shikamaru's elder brother was fighting in the war but was not aware why he was allowed because she believed only those who cleared the Ninja Academy were allowed to become a Shinobi, and as per what Shikamaru and Choji shared, Kazuki never went to the academy.

"Heh, that's because Brother Kazuki is an absolute genius. He was the first one since the inception of the Ninja Academy by Nidaime to have graduated without even enrolling in the academy. I don't think anyone else can repeat such a feat in the future." It was Tenten who started boasting about her future master to Ino. Both Naruto and Choji were nodding vigorously, as if affirming Tenten's words.

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Meanwhile, within Hiruzen's office, a high-level meeting was taking place. Most of the higher-ups from the Fire Country, along with the Daimyo, were seated opposite the elders from Konoha and Hiruzen.

"Hiruzen, is this true? Is Tsunade going after the bijuu from other major villages?" The Fire Daimyo questioned with a hint of anger and frustration in his tone.

"Yes, from the recent updates from the Iwagakure front, it seems she has started working towards that plan," Hiruzen replied. He was having a headache; not only did he have to manage the village during the war, but now the Daimyo and his team had come again personally to exert control over the village affairs.

"Hiruzen, what is Tsunade thinking? Does she think that Konoha is Hashirama's private property? Or did you have a hand in her recent actions?" One of the Daimyo's advisors aggressively questioned the Hokage.

"Watch your words; we all know how much Shodaime Sama has done for this village and country. I hope you remember how the Fire Country came into being in the first place. Disrespect Shodaime Sama one more time, and you will bear the consequences," Hiruzen's eyes narrowed dangerously, warning the Daimyo's subordinate who wanted to establish dominance.

The Daimyo simply gestured towards his subordinate and turned towards Hiruzen. "Hiruzen, my subordinate is only frustrated because of the recent actions of Senju Princess. He did not mean any disrespect to the first Hokage. However, my subordinate has a point. You need to provide an explanation. Aren't you the Hokage?" The man was cunning, and he was the one who instigated his subordinate to check the reaction of the village council.

"What kind of explanation are you looking for, Daimyo? Tsunade is only doing what is good for the village. Or are you suggesting that we lose this war deliberately?" Hiruzen's patience was running thin as he understood what the Daimyo was trying to achieve. His tone carried a subtle hint of anger.

"Hiruzen, watch your tone. Don't forget, it's the fire country that provides for the village, not the other way around. Do you know what will happen if the Fire Country stops supporting the village? Or is the village trying to be the overlord of the entire Fire Country just because you groom Shinobi?" The Daimyo wouldn't have the guts to speak such words if the Shodaime or Nidaime were sitting here. Still, he knew he could push Hiruzen, and he had enough influence within the village even to challenge Hiruzen's authority to some extent.

Hiruzen gritted his teeth but chose to keep his silence. He knew Konoha, although a military village, was not self-sufficient, and many clans within the village were covertly supporting the Daimyo faction. So he had to compromise. Hiruzen even knew the Daimyo was building his own ninja faction at an alarming rate under the guise of self-protection, but he chose not to comment at this time. He could argue that, just like how the village had a duty towards the fire country, the same could be said for the fire country, and if Konoha Shinobi didn't defend the borders, then the entire country would be razed to the ground.

"So what does the Daimyo propose in this situation? It's not like you can stop this war with just your words, now can you? Or don't tell me you want to go to the frontlines yourself to defend the Fire Country's borders from its enemies." Elder Kenji did not hold much respect for the other party, so he retorted.

The Daimyo's face turned ugly, but he controlled his anger and chose not to comment on the Uchiha elder's taunt.

"Hiruzen, what Tsunade is trying to achieve will only further the conflicts between the major villages. If she keeps going down the same path, then I am afraid the Fire Country cannot support the village in this foolish endeavor. However, I understand her concerns too, so we can find a middle ground." The Daimyo conveyed his thoughts. However, everyone knew that this was a blatant threat—that if Hiruzen did not heed the Daimyo's words, then the Leaf Village would not have the Fire Country's support.

"So what kind of middle ground is the Daimyo suggesting?" Hiruzen understood that this must have been the man's main agenda. After his advisor passed on Tsunade's intention to retake the bijuu, the Daimyo hastily came down to the village to exert pressure.

"It's not entirely impossible for the Fire Country to support the idea, but it's better if we can share the gains, don't you think? This way, both the village and the country can prosper. What I suggest is that we share the captured bijuu equally among us. I know the Leaf Village currently has the seven tails in its possession, and you already have the nine tails, so why not give up the seven tails to a shinobi groomed by the Fire Country?" The Daimyo carefully put forth his idea to see how the elders from the Leaf would react because he knew, although he had some influence within the village, he had to make sure not to touch the bottom line.

"You, how dare you?" It was Elder Kenji who shot up from his seat. Everyone realized the severity of this matter. What the Daimyo was hinting at would slowly dissolve the Leaf Village in the future if they agreed to the Daimyo's suggestion.

Hiruzen gestured for Elder Kenji to calm down. "Daimyo, you are playing a dangerous game. Don't think for a second that I don't know about the Shinobi faction that you are personally grooming and amassing. There is only so much disrespect that I can tolerate. Never forget where you come from. The Fire Country is only standing because we, the Leaf Shinobi, are protecting it with our lives." Hiruzen's tone was dangerously low, and his killing aura was unconsciously seeping out, which made the Daimyo's entourage flinch. Though the Daimyo was someone of elite Jonin caliber, he couldn't help but sweat because the man sitting before him was someone who could crush him within moments if he wished. So he chose not to broach this topic at the current time, as he would have time later.

"Fine, let's forget about the matter of Bijuu for the time being. But then what I said still stands. If Tsunade ends up angering all the major villages and they end up targeting us with all their might, then we might have to rethink our support." The Daimyo chose to step back in this instance because he knew pushing Hiruzen any further would only end in danger. This time, he just wanted to check the Leaf Village's bottom line.

"And I understand that currently Danzo's position in the elder council is vacant. So I have a suggestion. I will have one of my advisors fill up this position temporarily until the war is over. This way, it will make it easier for both parties to make important decisions. I wish Danzo was here; it would have helped us all." Although the Daimyo said it was a suggestion, he mentioned it in such a tone that there was no room for argument.

Hiruzen wanted to just bash the man's face in, but he knew having a conflict with the Daimyo at such a time would only become counterproductive. He also understood that it was his fault for letting the Daimyo gain influence right under his nose within his own village. So he could do nothing but nod, although he knew that by doing so he would be essentially letting the Daimyo interfere in all major decisions of the village henceforth, but he had no other option because the resources for the village still had to come from the Fire Country.

The meeting lasted for another hour, and by the time it came to a conclusion, the relationship between the sides had only soured more. The Daimyo had asked the Hokage to pressure Tsunade regarding the bijuu matter. Even both the scrolls were to be withheld and not dispersed but kept as a strategic tool to use during the village's time of need. Although Hiruzen reluctantly agreed, he couldn't help but smirk internally. He knew that, because she was being restricted, his student Tsunade would only push back more strongly, and with that little cunning devil by her side, he knew Tsunade would end up achieving what she had set out to do.